Floating crane



Jan 23, 1923.

3 SHEETSSHEET R. W. KALTENBACH. FLOATING CRANE FILED JULY 16.

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3 SHEETSSHEET 3 LII/67K fa WM w/(M the latter being midway between theaxis 16 and the axis 26. These boom supporting frames 25 are likewisebuilt chiefly of structural materials, and the design is such thattheses frames are capable of transmitting very heavy loads. By referenceto Fig. 2 it will be seen that viewed from the front or rear, these boomsupporting frames are triangular in shape, and that the outer portionsare connected by pins 27 to standards 'or brackets 28 on the turntable,and that their inner upright portions are connected by hollow pins ortrunnions 29 to standards or brackets 30.

To support and shift the boom the upright portions of the two boomsupporting frames 25 are each provided with a pair of parallel screws 31which extend nearly the full length of the frames and have their upperends supported in .heavy caps 32 at the top of the boom supportingframes, while their lower ends are journaled in castings 33 at thebottom of the frames. These screws are engaged by traveling nuts 34,having laterally projecting trunnions 34:" which are journaled inso-called beams 35, the construction of which is illustrated in Figs. 2,4t and 5. Extending centrally through the middle of each beam 35. is across-pin 36 on which is supported a heavy strap 37. The lower ends ofthe straps 37 of the two boom supporting frames are provided with eyes,and they engage reduced ends 38 of apair of heavy forgings 38 sup portedin diaphragins 89 (see Figs. 2 and 5) carried by a cross-beam 4,0 of theboom 15, this beam 40 extending cross-wise of the boom near the bottomthereof, as best shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood, of course, andit is apparent from the drawings, that the ends of the forgings 38project beyond both ends of the cross-beam so that their reduced ends 38may engage the straps 37. It will be understood also, that it is throughthe cross-beam 40 of the boom the forgings 38 carried thereby, thestraps 37, so-called beams 35, nuts 34, and screws 31, that the boom andwhatever load may be carried by it are supported.

To raise and lower the boom the screws 31 are turned to cause the nuts34: to travel up or down the screws. The latter are threaded forsubstantially their entire length, and when the boom is swung to itshighest position the nuts are near the upper ends of the screws,'andwhen the boom is in its lowermost position the nuts are near the lowerends of the screws, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. Any suitablemeans may be provided for rotating the screws 31, but in this instance,fixed to the lower ends of each pair of screws are gears 41 which areengaged by a pinion42 carried by a short vertical shaft is journaled inti 9 bottom casting 33 of the boom supporting fame and provided at itslower end with a bevel gear 414 engaged by a driving bevel gear 15. Thetwo bevel gears -15 for driving the screws of both boom supportingframes are preferably mounted on a common cross-shaft 46 which extendsthrough, and is journaled in Ho hollow trunnions or pins 29 by which theframes are journaled in or pivoted to the lower supports or bases 30.The shaft 46 will be driven by a suitable motor, not shown, carried bythe boom, and geared to the shaft. In Fig. 2 one of the driving gears 47is shown at the middle of the shaft 46.

It will be understood that as the nuts travel up the screws, the boomwill be elevated, the boom supporting frames then swinging about theirlower ends inward toward the center of the turntable. and as the nutstravel down the screws the boom is lowered, the boom supporting frames35 then swinging toward vertical position. Vihen the boom is in itslowermost position the boom supporting frames are substantiallyvertical, and in all positions of the boom the boom supporting framesare nearly at right angles to the boom, which is desirable in order thatthese frames may support the boom and transmit the load to the turntablein the most ellicient manner.

When the laterally projecting l'orgings 38 travel lengthwise of thesupporting fran'ies 25 as the boom is being raised or lowered said for;zings are guided in the frames 25 by wheels or rollers 48 which arejournaled on the forgings just beyond the ends of the cross-Mani 4-0 andengage parallcl guideways or tracks 4-9 extending lengthwise of the twoframes. These rollers is, the diameters of which are ')reforabl slightlyless than the distance between (hose guideways or tracks 4t!) also holdthe axes of the forgings 3S and hence of the crossbeam +t0 centrally ofthe supporting frames when the boom is stationary, as well as when it isbeing shifted.

In the drawings l have shown. and in the specification I have describedonly the pre ferred construction, but it will be understood that thestructure is susceptible of modification in details without affectingthe principle of the invention, and I aim in my claims to cover allmodifications which do not involve a departure from the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention. l claim:

1. In combination with a vessel. a crane comprising a boom pivoted atits inner end. and a boom supporting and boom s\\'ing'in; member pivotedat its lower end and connected to the boom in advance of the pivoted endof the boom. said member having a device adapted to travel up and downalong' the same to vary the inclination of the boom. 2. In combinationwith a vessel, a crane its pivotal frame having a member adapted totravel up a mounted on the vessel and comprising a support, a swingingboom and a boom supporting and shifting frame, the inner endof the boomand the lower part of the frame being pivotally connected to saidsupport on opposite sides of its center, and the frame having aconnection with the boom forward of connection with the support, saidand down "the same to vary the inclination of the boom.

3. In combination with a vessel, a crane mounted on the vesselcomprising a turntab-le movable about an axis, a boom and a boomsupporting frame, the inner end of said boom and the lower part of saidframe being pivotally connected to the turntable on opposite sides ofits center, said frame having a connection with the boom in advance ofthe latters connection with the turntable, and said frame having a partmovable lengthwise thereof to vary the inclination of the boom.

4:. A floating crane comprising a platform, a boom having its lowest endpivoted to the platform, a pair of boom supporting members having theirlower ends pivoted to the platform and connected to opposite sides ofthe boom inadvance of the latters connection with the platform, saidmembers having means adapted to travel up and down the same to vary theinclination of the boom.

5. A floating crane comprising a platform movable about a central axis,a boom having its inner lower end pivoted to the platform, a pair ofboom supporting and shifting frames having their lower ends pivotallyconnected to the platform and connected to opposite sides of the boomforward of the latters point of connection with the platform, and meansadapted to travel up and down along said frames for varying theinclination of the boom.

6. A floating crane comprising a turntable adapted to turn about anaxis, a boom having its inner end pivoted to the turntable, a pair ofboom supporting and shifting frames pivoted at their lower ends to theturntable,

the boom and frames being connected to the turntable on opposite sidesof its center, and

the frames being connected to opposite sides of the boom forward of thelatters connection with the turntable, and means for shifting lengthwiseof the frames the points of connection between the latter and the boom.

7. A floating crane comprising a support, a boom pivoted at its innerend to the support, a pair of boom supporting and shifting frames onopposite sides of the boom and pivotally connected at their lower endsto said support, said boom having forward of its point of connectionwith said support laterally projecting members, and said frames havingmeans movable lengthwise thereof and engaging said members.

8. A floating crane comprising a support adapted to be turned about anaxis, a boom, a pair of boom supporting and shifting frames, the boomand frames being pivoted to said support on opposite sides of its axis,and the boom having in advance of its connection with said support across-beam, and devices movable lengthwise of the frames and connectedto said cross-beam.

9. A floating crane comprising a platform, a boom and a pair of boomsupporting frames all pivoted to the platform, a crossbeam on the boomin advance of its connection with the platform and having axiallyprojecting studs, screws extending longitudinally of the frames, andmembers shiftable along said screws and connected to said studs.

10. A floating crane comprising a plat form, a boom pivoted thereto atits inner end, a pair of boom supporting frames pivoted thereto at theirlower ends, supports projecting laterally from the boo-m forwardly ofits point of connection with the platform, screws extending lengthwiseof the frames, nuts traveling along said screws, and connecting meansbetween said nuts and said supports.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature,

ROBERT W. KALTENBACH.

